Africa Aiming High at Tokyo 2020

(ATR) African sporting leaders are taking steps to improve upon the continent's Rio 2016 medal total at the next Olympics in Tokyo.

During the 2016 Games African countries took home a total of 45 medals, the most ever for the continent. On April 20-21, African sport leaders met in Abidjan, Ivory Coast for a forum entitled "Defining together the Winning strategy for Tokyo 2020". There sport leaders adopted a number of resolutions, seen by Around the Rings, aimed atbuilding upon the strengths of African sport while developing lesser sports in the region.

An Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) ad hoc committee on Tokyo 2020 will be created for the purpose of "categorizing, planning, monitoring, and assessing athlete preparation at the next Games".

The committee will also assess strategic medal targets for certain sports, as well as analyze the results from Rio. In addition, cooperation will be strengthened between stakeholders around the continent to improve expertise.

A big part of the cooperation is centered around NOCs being encouraged to form "harmonious relationships"with governments to improve sporting facilities and practices. ANOCA will also work with NOCs to secure sponsors, reach better organization platforms, and "encourage the signing of partnership agreements with high-level preparation centers on the continent."

Kirsty Coventry, an IOC member from Zimbabwe who serves on the athletes commission, told ATR one of the biggest takeaways from the meeting was "honest and open conversations" throughout the two days. She said that it was easy to see the positive future for African sport, and the different dialogues now need to be put into firm action.

"My thoughts and sentiments were we could break down the borders as a continent," Coventry said. "When I say break down the borders, [I mean] Kenya and Ethiopia have amazing training centers and good coaches so let us open them up to [other countries'] runners, and then [countries like] South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Egypt are all strong in swimming, so can we get African swimmers from the continent into those countries to train.

"So we’re all working towards a common goal but we're focusing on the strengths that we have of individual countries, if that makes sense."

Palenfo: IOC Targeting African Olympics

ANOCA Presidential Candidate Lassana Palenfo says the IOC wants an Olympics organized in Africa in the next 20 years.

Palenfo spoke with Francs Jeux at the recent meetings in Abidjan to discuss his ongoing presidential campaign. If elected in 2017, Palenfo will be serving his fourth mandate as the head of ANOCA.

"We are evolving," Palenfo is quoted as saying. "Within 20 years, we can [host an Olympics.] This is the wish of the IOC. We will be ready."

After reelection in 2013, Palenfo targeted 2028 as a possible date for an African Olympics. This target was reinforced by IOC President Thomas Bach in 2015.

South African IOC member Sam Ramsamy told ATR last month that the earliest the country would bid for the Olympics is in 2032.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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